Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America Trade Book | 
pickThis was a long audiobook, but I stuck with it. This is really 2 stories in 1, which seems to be a common comment after people read it. NF about the building & celebration of the World‘s Fair in Chicago 1893, but also about a serial murderer who was in Chicago at the same time. Both were interesting, especially the World‘s Fair part. Chapters go back & forth between the 2 stories. IMO, it would be a better book if it just focused on World‘s Fair.
so-soDefinitely not my favorite narrative history, I'm not sure that I liked the alternating chapters. I think I would have preferred two different books- one about the Chicago World's Fair and another about the murders. I get that they tie together in settings and influx of victims but I think they could have stood alone. Anyway, I'll definitely look at the area of Chicago differently the next time I visit The Museum of Science & Industry.
bailedI hardly ever quit books, especially when I‘m a quarter of the way through, but this serial killer dude is just too awful for me and after this week in the News, I cannot read about someone treating women like this and maintain my thin grasp on hope for humanity. Very very well done, wrong subject matter for me.
so-soThis book is really two separate novels about the same time period in the same city. This is the only connection between the architects of The 1893 World‘s Fair and the serial killer H.H. Holmes. The book is well researched. The chapters on Holmes were intriguing. The chapters on The World‘s Fair were tedious but informative. I started out reading linearly, but eventually read it as two books. Anyone interested in Chicago history will love it.
pickI thought this book was fascinating. It tells the true story of the creation of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago as well as the story of the serial killer H H Holmes and how he used the Fair to attract more victims.
#DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks #ReadOrDonate @julieclair (Keep) #WickedWords #Lake @AsYouWish
“I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing.”
#Evil #WickedWhispers
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
I'm posting the #BookScavengerHunt prompts in order & today is 'Monochrome'.
Another one on the list but not yet read.
#Flerken #HauntedShelf @puddlejumper #Monochrome
pick#Wardens2024 #ReadAway2024 #ReadMyRoom
I found this easier to follow on 🎧audio than physical. Information dense but very interesting. Pictures would have made a wonderful edition📸
I look forward to following this up with a few others from this time period🤓📚
so-soInteresting contrast between the story of a successful world fair and the life of the first serial killer of America.
so-soI am so happy to say I finally finished this one! It's been on my TBR since who knows when 🤣
Larson wrote a very detailed, and I do mean very, account of the Chicago's World Fair, the atmosphere and history of the time, as well as the serial killer hiding within.
Larson is a great researcher, this I'm sure of, and gave me so much new information specific to the fair but all in all, while I had a few disconnects.
#24in2024
pickLarson‘s deep dive into Chicago‘s World Fair may not appeal to all readers. This bit of American history is made more appealing (for some) by adding the story of a serial killer operating in and around the city during this time. Though little of Holmes‘s crimes is actually known, his victims are, and they come to life on the page. He was a white man pretending to be a dr. so nobody questioned the many suspicious disappearances in his life.⬇️
My book selection - The Devil in the White City 🌬️
Unabridged Bookstore 📚
Chicago, Illinois
This year‘s pumpkin is weirdly fibrous inside, so I can‘t safely use my usual candle with it. The battery-powered light I grabbed instead shows off the back wall‘s stringy texture, but I‘ve decided I don‘t hate the effect. It‘s kinda creepy.
As is this book, which I‘m revisiting (and very much enjoying) on audio. It‘s a fascinating story and it‘s got me remembering how many good conversations it sparked the first time, when I read it in public.
pickI'm behind on reviews so let's play catchup!
This historical nonfiction follows the creation of The World‘s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago in conjuction with the notorious serial killer Dr. H. H. Holmes, who lured young women into his hotel and murdered then in a specially built gas chamber / crematorium. A darkly fascinating read. If you like historical true crime, this one is for you.
pickFinished this last night. 4/4 for #JoysofJune Readathon @Andrew65 .
Seemed more like a history of architecture on building the World Fair in Chicago between 1891-1893 than a True Crime Book. In fact, I actually enjoyed the parts about building the structures for the World Fair more than I did the True Crime story. Which is strange because I love the True Crime Genre.
'In Chicago at the end of the nineteenth century amid the smoke of industry⬇️
Max doesn't feel good today. So, he is sitting with me while, I read. Hope to finish this today.
bailedI tried. Twice. 😔 Just couldn't get into it. I typically enjoy narrative non-fiction, but this just wasn't an interesting subject for me. I do think Larson is a lovely writer! #Authoramonth @Soubhiville
pickSkating in just under the wire with my #AAM selection. What a fabulous read! Thank you so much to all the Littens who recommended it! I bought a physical copy of it around the time it was first published, but had no patience for nonfiction back then & didn‘t make it very far into the story. I‘ve always meant to go back to it, & I‘m so glad I finally did! This was informative & exciting, it won‘t be my last Eric Larson. #Booked2023 #AboutAMonster
Got some reading for #authoramonth on the plane, this book has me gasping every other page, so many connections! I‘m loving it!
pickThe 1893 World Fair in Chicago sounds amazing and I would have loved to have visited the White City! The devil, on the other hand, was an atrocious mass serial killer who fooled just about everyone. How could I have not known about either? What an incredible book to fill a huge gap in knowledge of American history and to make it infinitely interesting. I‘m so glad I finally had a reason to finally read Erik Larson! #authoramonth
IN CHICAGO AT THE END of the nineteenth century amid the smoke of industry and the clatter of trains there lived two men, both handsome, both blue-eyed, and both unusually adept at their chosen skills. #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
repost for @Soubhiville:
Happy May! Time to pull out our Erik Larson books for #AuthorAMonth. What are you planning to read?
#AuthorAMonth is a no-pressure, no-commitment Litsy challenge. The goal is to celebrate the works of a particular author each month. Authors were chosen through polls by Litsy participants. Read as many as you like, skip months when needed, it's entirely up to you!
Who can imagine working in a place with these amenities…in the 1880s (not a typo)!?!
On my shelf forever now, I‘m so glad Erik Larson is our #authoramonth for May. It‘s pretty long so I‘m getting a head start on it now. If I‘m lucky I‘ll be able to fit in the second book by him I own.
so-soFelt like reading two different books at once.
The only #TrueCrime book I own 😬
#MarchMagic 💚💰🌈🍀
#BookNerd 🤓📚💙
I‘m not really a #TrueCrime fan, but this is on that‘s been on my TBR for ages. #MarchMagic @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
pickI came for the murder mystery/ true crime element but I found myself far more interested in the history and story of the architecture. I don‘t know why I waited so long to read this.
so-soI was looking forward to this book but was a little disappointed. I felt the book was more about the development of the World‘sFair and not as much about H. H. Holmes(which is why I bought it). I found his chapters interesting and wanting more, but VERY short. Learned some neat historical facts, so was not a complete loss.
pickI can see myself on the top of Ferris's wheel right now! I found this book to be fascinating; I never knew so much went into a world's fair, and what they had to do in the 1800s and what they had to endure is beyond staggering. Larson is a masterful storyteller with intense research to support his story. Larson does take some liberties with Holmes's story, but his theories make sense with all of the research he gathered.
pickMy most recent audio… this was so good, and when I googled to look up some pictures, it looks like Scorsese making a movie with Keanu Reeves and Leonardo DiCaprio. I can‘t wait… I bet it will be so good! Psychotic murderer loose along with history of the construction of the Chicago World‘s Fair.
pick(April review)⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is not an easy read if you go in blind. The first few chapters were unbearable. I was not gonna give up so decided to do some research on the side to have a better understanding of what I was reading about. Well I went down the rabbit hole of "unrelated" topics..Tartarians, Rewriting of History, conspiracy theories... And more by the end I was in love, is not for everyone but i would recommend it.
This NF account proves that the most insidious evil is perpetrated by real people…
#Evil #OminousOctober @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
This is my favorite work by Larson to this point. You have the wonder of the World‘s Fair and everything that went into planning for the event contrasted by the evil deeds of H.H. Holmes who left so many unfortunate victims in his wake.
#scarathlondailyprompt #victim #scarathlon #teammonstermash @StayCurious
I love watching true crime shows but I‘m not a big true crime reader 😬 This was the only true crime book I found in my library.
#TrueCrime 🩸#ArtfulAugust 🖌🖼🎨
#BookNerd 💙📚🤓
Two of my favorite #truecrime stories - the devil one is chilling 🥶🫣😱
#artfulaugust @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
From Book Riot
Well, this ought to be interesting! Wonder who will play Holmes? I may have to pull this out for a reread. It was sooo good!!
pickLoved it! The main story is the building of the Chicago World‘s Fair along with the story of the serial killer H H Homes in the backdrop. Both stories fascinating. Very fun and approachable read.
Loved the dualing timelines of this story and the realism and the chillingness of the writing.
An excellent historical fiction novel that is now being made into a TV show..... maybe with Keanu Reeves. Uhm yes please. 😏
#letterD #alphebetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
